“Saved” is the latest single from Bob Collum and the Welfare Mothers, due out on Fretsore Records on February 19th. The single is a remake of the gospel- flavoured tongue-in-cheek Leiber and Stoller hit – first recorded and popularised by LaVern Baker, and later covered by Joe Cocker and Elvis Presley. “Saved” serves as the focus single to the upcoming album ‘This Heart Will Self Destruct’, set for a March 19th release.

The track is released as a digital EP that also includes non-album tracks “Falling Blue” and “Shake It Loose No. 2”.

“I first heard this song when NBC replayed the 1968 Elvis comeback special in August of 1978. It’s always been a big favourite of mine and later I discovered the LaVern Baker original and The Band’s version on their Moondog Matinee album. Of course, what sounds like a traditional gospel song was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in an office in New York.”

A collaborative affair, Collum attributes the world-class musical standard to his band The Welfare Mothers and its honorary members; “The Welfare Mothers and myself had been doing this one live for awhile and we knocked out our version at the end of the recording session. It’s fun to do someone else’s song and this one is a hoot to play. The band sound fantastic and I believe this was a one-take recording. The choir features Paul Quarry, Mags Layton, Martin Belmont and Paul Ambrose evoking if not the Holy Spirit at least spirits of some kind or another.

Mags once again proves why she is one of the great fiddle players on this track with a performance that will put the fear of god into you.”

‘Saved’ is available to stream/download HERE

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Born in Oklahoma, the now Essex-based Bob Collum is a self-proclaimed Anglophile since his teenage years. Raised by his grandparents on the likes of Bob Wills and The Carter Family, Collum has embraced the sonic-fusion of transatlantic influences brought through the ongoing ripple effect of The Beatles. What results is a combination of these influences in his own artistic output; home-grown, transatlantic and British are all evident on the upcoming album ‘This Heart Will Self Destruct’.

Early tastes of the album include the Johnny Cash-inspired single, “From Birmingham” which received support on the likes of Meridian FM, Soho Radio, Cambridge 105 and CMR Nashville.

For more information on Bob Collum and the Welfare Mothers (click links)
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